Welcome to Perfect Picture Book Friday!
My dogs decided that a good use of their time last evening for a couple hours in the pouring rain was to dig a gigantic hole, so I feel like a book about mud is extremely appropriate today! Luckily no books were jeopardized during their excavation, but they came in covered in mud requiring significant clean up! I’d show you a picture but it was so dark and rainy I couldn’t get one!
The students in Florence did a completely different (and much more meaningful!) clean up when the Arno River overflowed its banks and left the city and everything in it covered in mud. Karen Greenwald’s beautiful new book tells the story.
Before we get to it, I’m delighted to announce that the winner of Glenys Nellist’s beautiful SONG OF THE SEASONS from last week is. . .
Jen (picturebooks4learning)!
Congratulations, Jen! Please email me so Glenys and I can get you your book! 😊
Plus, Karen is kindly offering a giveaway! One lucky winner will have the chance for a 20 minute Zoom Ask Me Anything with Karen! Just leave a comment on today’s post by Thursday, April 18th at 3PM to be entered in the random giveaway!
Title: The Mud Angels: How Students Saved The City Of Florence
Written By: Karen M. Grenwald
Illustrated By: Olga Lee
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Co, April 4, 2024, nonfiction
Suitable For Ages: 4-8
Themes/Topics: international community building, STEAM, bravery, historical preservation, conservation, selflessness, problem-solving, and volunteerism.
text copyright Karen Greenwald, 2024, illustration copyright Olga Lee, 2024, Albert Whitman
Opening: “Mama says our city is so old,
event eh tiniest stones have
secrets and stories to tell.
We are linked to Florence’s past by my great-great-
great-grandpa (that’s a long, long, long time ago).
His hand-printed, older-than-old, one-of-a-kind
book is in the Central Library.
That’s where all the words filling all the pages of
every book ever written in Italy are supposed to live,
safely,
waiting to be read.”
Brief Synopsis: [from the publisher] “Based on real events, this story shows how a team of international volunteers worked together to save priceless artifacts after a flood.”
text copyright Karen Greenwald, 2024, illustration copyright Olga Lee, 2024, Albert Whitman
Links To Resources: the back of the book contains an author’s note about the history of the Mud Angels and her research for the book; a teacher’s guide should be ready soon with great activities; ask children to think about what it means to be hero. How many types of heroes are there? Then, interview someone in their community who they consider a hero. Learn about what this person did and why. What was/were the outcome/s?; community helpers guessing game video; how to make a family tree (with printable templates); 5 Ways to Teach Your Children About Volunteering; draw a picture or tell or write a story about a time when you were brave
text copyright Karen Greenwald, 2024, illustration copyright Olga Lee, 2024, Albert Whitman
Why I Like This Book: I love the history of this book, the way the story is rooted in the narrator’s great-great-great-grandpa and his “hand-printed, older-than-old, one-of-a-kind book in the Central Library.” What a treasure! Of course when it is threatened it is very much worth saving! The way the community draws together to save their city and the people and things in it is a wonderful model for kids. The voice is very engaging, and a story that covers some difficult things (serious flooding, toxic mud, danger to people, places, and things) is told in a very accessible, age-appropriate way that is informative without being frightening and includes some lovely language, for example, “Water leapt over the river’s stone-stacked walls, swirling, whirling, and racing up narrow streets.” Overall an interesting, engaging true story that shows kids that there are many ways that anyone can help their community.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 😊
For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific blog links (and any other info you feel like filling out 😊) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! 😊
And don’t forget, one lucky winner will have the chance for a 20 minute Zoom Ask Me Anything with Karen! Just leave a comment on today’s post by Thursday, April 18th at 3PM to be entered in the random giveaway!
Susanna Leonard Hill 
Florence 1966, flood. I hope they translate the book in Italian. Congratulations.
That would be cool, wouldn’t it, Eleanor?!
Having experienced Superstorm Sandy in my home and community, I know the devastation that occurs with flooding. It is wonderful to hear the students in Florence were taught civic efficacy and jumped into action. Thank you for sharing this important book.♥️
It is wonderful when people pitch in to save a community, Robin! The really cool thing about these students is that they were international, so they acted selflessly to save the books and help the Florentines even though they weren’t from Florence themselves!
Beautiful story! I can’t wait to read it! Congratulations!
I think you’ll really enjoy it, Melissa!
What a perfect book for children who live through disasters — everywhere. I love the illustrations.
It really is, Pat. And in addition, it shows how important historical preservation is and how much it means to people.
This story sounds fascinating. Looking forward to reading it.
I think you’ll like it!
It’s amazing how much good people can do when they come together for common cause. Good pick for a perfect picture book reading day!
Thanks, Sue! It is amazing, and it’s a good thing for kids to be aware of so they know that they are capable of contributing too!
I watched the launch party, and was moved to tears by the stories from two of the original Mud Angels. Karen has written such a beautiful book, and the illustrations are a terrific match for her poetic narrative.
(Good luck cleaning up those pups!)
I didn’t even know about the launch party, Jilanne! That sounds amazing, that some of the original Mud Angels were there to speak!
Karen’s books are amazing. Looking forward to reading this one!
(Hope your pups refrain from any type of mischief for a while!!!)
She really writes well, Susan! And I hope so too, but I am not optimistic, given what we are working with 🤣
Hmm, I wonder if it is in the name…Finn!🤣
A fascinating city & an amazing story – can’t wait to read it. Congratulations, Karen!
I really enjoyed it, Patricia. It was something I didn’t know about before!
This is such an inspiring book! I hope it encourages more people to work together to solve problems. Congratulations, Karen, on this truly wonderful book.
It IS an inspiring book, Claire, and I hope so too!
I love this book and I too watched the launch and was amazed and impressed by the Mud Angels and the work they did under such awful circumstances. Karen did a great job with this book and I lover your resources.
Boy, I sure wish I’d known about the launch! I would have loved to watch it!
There are so many little stories that are fascinating to tell! Thanks for sharing this one.
That sounds like a wonderful book. We need examples like this of people from around the world coming together to do important things, like rescuing libraries!